As the Pāṇḍavas entered that blessed land, inhabited by virtuous people, their hearts overflowed with lasting joy, O King. Their arrival was honored by Saubala, Karṇa, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Kṛpa, Bhīṣma, and the ever-righteous king, who all welcomed them with due respect. Thus, the Pāṇḍavas took up residence in Khāṇḍavaprastha, surrounded by those five mighty archers, each one equal to Indra in valor. That foremost city shone resplendently, like Bhogavatī among the Nāgas. Having worshipped Viśvakarman, the divine architect, the Pāṇḍavas respectfully let him depart. They also honored the sage Dvaipayana Vyāsa and, after taking his leave, Yudhishthira addressed Kṛṣṇa, the illustrious descendant of the Vrishni lineage, who was preparing to depart at the appointed time. Yudhishthira spoke with gratitude: “O descendent of Vrishni, by your favor I have attained this kingdom. Truly, by your grace, O hero, this land—once empty and difficult to defend—has been restored. It is solely through your favor that we remain established in the kingdom; in times of calamity, O Madhava, you are always the refuge of the Pāṇḍavas. Knowing what must be done, you should have it carried out, for you are our guide; whatever is agreeable to you, O faultless one, should be approved for us. Through your power, I have rightfully obtained this great kingdom; how could the ancestral realm of my fathers and grandfathers not belong to you, O lord? What can the ill-behaved sons of Dhritarashtra do to the Pāṇḍavas? Rule the world as you wish, and forever bear the burden of righteousness. Again and again, out of joy, support the Brahmanas, O descendant of Puru; for today itself, the illustrious sage Nārada will swiftly arrive. Receive his words and carry out his instructions.” Having said this, Janārdana, the great Kṛṣṇa, bowed reverently to Kuntī. He spoke to her with gentle words: “I shall depart—my respects to you.” Kuntī, in turn, addressed him with deep affection and gratitude: “What has been recognized by the noble one has indeed been understood by you, O foremost of the Yadus; with you as protector, O Govinda, we have crossed over great suffering. You are the protector of the unprotected, especially of the poor; all my sorrows are calmed by your very sight. Remember these things, O greatly wise one; by that alone, the Pāṇḍavas live.” Kṛṣṇa replied, “I shall do so,” and bowing to his paternal aunt Kuntī, Vasudeva, along with his followers, prepared to depart. Having settled all matters, the hero, together with Balarāma, took leave of the Kauravas and, with the consent of the Pāṇḍavas, journeyed to Dvārakā, O King. Having thus attained the kingdom at Indraprastha, O possessor of austerities, what did the tiger-like Pāṇḍavas do thereafter? All of them were great-souled, all were my grandfathers—and Draupadī, the wife in righteousness—how did she conduct herself with them? How did those illustrious men, living with Krishnaa alone, not come into conflict with one another? I wish to hear in detail and truthfully about their conduct with one another, as they lived together with Krishnaa. Having received Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s permission, the tiger-like Pāṇḍavas entered Indraprastha together with Krishnaa. Having attained the kingdom, the mighty and truthful Yudhishthira ruled the earth in accordance with dharma, together with his brothers. The great-souled sons of Pāṇḍu, devoted to truth and righteousness and victorious over their enemies, having obtained this city, dwelled there in peace. The best of the Bharatas performed all civic duties and sat upon royal seats of great value. While those great-souled Pāṇḍavas were seated there, the sage Nārada arrived, desiring to see the king of dharma. He traveled by a path adorned by stars, traversed by Suparna, shining with the light of the moon and sun, and frequented by great sages. By a celestial route through the sky, difficult for ascetics to attain and honored by all beings, he came to the earth, which was adorned with cities and palaces. Observing everything, the radiant and austere sage—learned in all Vedānta and accomplished in all branches of the Vedas—arrived. Endowed with supreme asceticism, enveloped in Brahmanical austerity, skilled in law and governance, the great sage was renowned. Having attained the highest dharma, surpassing all others, his mind was purified, free from passion, peaceful, gentle, upright, and bearing the banner of self-control. He was realized in dharma by all the gods, asuras, and humans, when their actions and sins had diminished among the various beings. In every way, he observed proper conduct and the teachings of the Vedas; hundreds of times he had drunk soma in pure sacrifices, performing meritorious acts and tending the sacred fire. He was a knower of the Ṛg, Sāma, and Yajur Vedas, wise in justice and dharma, upright, of noble descent, aged, a great traveler, and sinless. With a smooth topknot, endowed with supreme brilliance, clad in pure, fine, and divine garments, beautifully fashioned, he wore a great upper garment gifted by Mahendra, and a new divine girdle made of gold, with a shining clasp. He adorned himself with beautiful earrings, divine and radiant like fire and the sun, and held aloft a silver parasol, splendid and of supreme luster. Having attained the highest Brahmanical splendor, difficult for others to obtain, he entered the king’s palace like Bṛhaspati himself. He was accomplished in the collection of all scriptures, in the established and applied dharma of all beings, and in the order of righteousness.